Comparison

Pilot Handbook vs FAR/AIM by ASA

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

Pilot Handbook

Access essential aeronautical knowledge for pilots and students. This app provides comprehensive information from the FAA's Pilot's Handbook, including over 110 aviation calculators and detailed weight and balance data. It features over 800 illustrations to aid understanding.

Highlights
  • Aeronautical knowledge content
  • 110+ aviation calculators
  • Weight and balance information
  • 800+ illustrations
  • FAA pilot training manual format
  • Standalone calculators
Features
Read full description

Pilot Handbook App presents the information from the The Pilot's Handbook of Aeronautical Knowledge in a format optimized for your iPhone/iPad. As a bonus Pilot Handbook now includes 110 calculators for pilots and over 80 pages of Weight and Balance information. The Pilot Handbook app is based on the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) premier pilot training manual titled Pilot’s Handbook of Aeronautical Knowledge ( FAA-H8083-25A updated with October 2014 changes). This app provides knowledge that is essential for pilots, student pilots, and instructors. Many FAA Knowledge Exams' questions are taken directly from the information presented in these texts. Pilot Handbook app includes information on: * Introduction to flying * Aircraft structure * Principles of flight * Aerodynamics of flight * Flight controls * Aircraft systems * Flight instruments * Flight manuals * Weight and balance * Aircraft performance * Weather theory * Weather reports, forecasts and charts * Airport operations * Airspace * Navigation * Aeromedical factors * Aeronautical decision-making The app includes over 800 illustrations and images. It also now includes over 110 aviation calculators integrated into the content and standalone. Pilot Handbook is an encyclopedia of all aspects of aeronautical information.

About

FAR/AIM by ASA

Access comprehensive aviation regulations and information, including the FAR, AIM, and Pilot/Controller Glossary. Features include free updates, text search, study by certificate, and customizable reading options. Stay current with daily FAA changes.

Highlights
  • Free updates
  • Complete FAR/AIM content
  • Study by certificate
  • Text search functionality
  • Customizable reading options
  • Highlight and bookmark text
Features
Read full description

ASA has built a reputation for providing the aviation community with the most accurate and reliable FAR/AIM products available. The FAR/AIM app continues this tradition, containing information from Titles 14 and 49 of the Code of Federal Regulations (14 and 49 CFR) pertinent to pilots, flight instructors, flight crew, and aviation mechanics, combined with the Aeronautical Information Manual (AIM), and Pilot/Controller Glossary. ASA FAR/AIM app features: • Free Updates provided. • All of the ASA FAR/AIM, FAR for Flight Crew, and FAR for Aviation Maintenance Technician book contents are included: 14 CFR Parts 1, 3, 5, 13, 21, 23, 25, 26, 27, 29, 33, 34, 35, 38, 39, 43, 45, 47, 48, 61, 63, 65, 67, 68, 71, 73, 89, 91, 97, 103, 105, 107, 110, 111, 117, 119, 120, 121, 125, 133, 135, 136, 137, 141, 142, 145, 147, 183, 194; 49 CFR Parts 172, 175, and 830; TSA 1544 and 1552; • The complete Aeronautical Information Manual including color figures. • Includes Advisory Circulars (AC) 20-62, 20-109, 21-12, 39-7, 43-9, 43.9-1, 65-30, Feedback Form. • Pilot/Controller Glossary included. • Study by Certificate lists for Private, Remote, Sport, Instrument/CFII, Commercial, Flight Instructor, Flight Engineer, and ATP allows aviators to hone their studies to the pertinent rules for their individual certificate and operation. • Text search helps you find what you’re looking for in the FAR, AIM, Advisory Circulars or all. • Profile and Landscape viewing available for easy reading and viewing figures. • Ability to increase text size. • Highlight and bookmark text to create your own study tools. ASA tracks FAA changes daily and updates the app when regulations and AIM changes affect pilot operations. The date shown for the app's update reflects the last regulatory change affecting content. A new update will be released when a rule change affects operations. None of the material in this publication supersedes any documents, procedures, or regulations issued by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). ASA does not claim copyright on any material included herein that was taken from United States government sources; all contents originate from the FAA.

Screenshots

Pilot Handbook4 screens
FAR/AIM by ASA4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is review sentiment: Pilot Handbook at 93% against FAR/AIM by ASA's 33%. Pilot Handbook also leads on price ($2.99 vs $19.95) and rating (4.9 vs 3.4). FAR/AIM by ASA's advantage is chart position (#4 vs unranked). On ratings volume, update cadence, ads and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Pilot Handbook costs $2.99 and FAR/AIM by ASA $19.95 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Pilot Handbook holds the better App Store score, 4.9 against 3.4. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 320 and 253 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 93% of Pilot Handbook's written reviews are positive against 33% of FAR/AIM by ASA's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Pilot Handbook ships an update every 6 months, FAR/AIM by ASA every 5 months. Both last shipped on October 29, 2026.

Scorecard5 real differences · 6 level
Pilot Handbook versus FAR/AIM by ASA: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterPilot HandbookFAR/AIM by ASA
Price$2.99 — better$19.95
Rating4.9 (320 ratings) — better3.4 (253 ratings)
Positive reviews93.5% of reviews — better33.1% of reviews
Number of ratings320 — better253
Update frequencyEvery 6 monthsEvery 5 months — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationFreeFree
Best chart rank—#4 — better
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS9.3 — better13.0
Further details — not scored
Size99 MB47 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperCalculated IndustriesASA

Customer experience

Pilot Handbook

All ratings319 ratings
Positive98.1%
Neutral0.9%
Negative0.9%
Written reviews107 reviews
Positive93.5%
Neutral2.8%
Negative3.7%

FAR/AIM by ASA

All ratings249 ratings
Positive50.2%
Neutral18.1%
Negative31.7%
Written reviews118 reviews
Positive33.1%
Neutral24.6%
Negative42.4%

User reviews

Pilot Handbook

From 320 App Store ratings

What we love

  • 👍 User-friendly interface and easy navigation
  • 📚 Comprehensive and detailed aviation content
  • 💰 Excellent value for the price
  • 📖 Well-organized reference material
  • 🎨 Clear illustrations and graphics

Room to improve

  • ⚠️ Content not updated to latest FAA standards
  • 🐛 Trip planning calculators malfunction
  • 🐛 Pages frequently stick and don't scroll
  • 📱 Not optimized for newer device screens
  • 🎨 Logo compass design error (aircraft banking issue)

FAR/AIM by ASA

From 253 App Store ratings

What we love

  • 📱 Convenient offline access to FAR/AIM
  • 💰 One-time purchase with free lifetime updates
  • 🔍 Search functionality available
  • ⭐ Well-organized content structure
  • 🎯 Study by Certificate feature

Room to improve

  • 🔍 Search function is poorly designed and unreliable
  • 🔄 No cross-device synchronization of highlights/bookmarks
  • 🐛 Highlights disappear or move randomly after updates
  • 🌙 No dark mode for text content (only menus)
  • 📝 Cannot add notes or annotations

Bugs and requests

Pilot Handbook

Reported bugs

6 issues
  • Trip time calculator repeats descent time value instead of summing properly
  • Fuel calculation based on incorrect trip time
  • Pages stick and don't scroll down properly
  • App crashes and shuts down unexpectedly
  • Not optimized for iPhone X and newer devices with larger screens
Show 1 more
  • Logo compass design shows aircraft in impossible banking position

Requested features

10 requests
  • Update content to FAA-8083-25C 2023 version
  • Dark mode for night reading
  • Chapter numbers for easier reference
  • Text highlighting and underlining capability
  • Text enlargement/zoom feature
Show 5 more
  • Better optimization for newer device screens (iPhone X+)
  • Canadian version with cross-border regulatory references
  • Dictionary facility for aviation terminology
  • Improved menu navigation for calculators
  • Page references to original FAA book

FAR/AIM by ASA

Reported bugs

16 issues
  • Search function returns too many irrelevant results or zero results
  • Highlights disappear after app updates
  • Highlights move randomly within text
  • App resets to home screen when switching apps
  • Bookmarks show blank pages
Show 11 more
  • Duplicate regulation entries appearing
  • Search function only works with exact word matches
  • Partial word searches return no results
  • Study by Certificate search function disabled
  • Font size adjustment buttons (A+/A-) non-functional
  • Search bar hidden under ASA logo
  • Regulations sometimes fail to open
  • Highlights from different sections mixed together
  • Content not updating with latest FAR/AIM changes
  • Performance degradation after updates
  • Chapter titles cut off with no expansion option

Requested features

19 requests
  • Cloud sync for highlights and bookmarks across devices
  • Note-taking and annotation capabilities
  • Multiple highlight colors
  • Dark mode for text content
  • Adjustable font size slider
Show 14 more
  • Apple Pencil support for handwriting
  • Custom bookmark titles/labels
  • Ability to organize bookmarks into folders
  • Hyperlinks between related regulations
  • Changelog/update notes for each version
  • Mac app optimization for larger displays
  • Printable pages
  • Add missing FAR parts (31, 47, 93, 95, etc.)
  • Improved search with phrase matching
  • Search highlighting within results
  • Table of Contents browsing
  • Proper indentation for subparts
  • Ability to unhighlight text
  • Dynamic Text support

In-app purchases

None

Pilot Handbook

No in-app purchases

None

FAR/AIM by ASA

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Pilot Handbook free?
Pilot Handbook costs $2.99, with no in-app purchases.
Is FAR/AIM by ASA free?
FAR/AIM by ASA costs $19.95, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, Pilot Handbook or FAR/AIM by ASA?
Pilot Handbook is rated higher. Pilot Handbook averages 4.9 out of 5 from 320 ratings, while FAR/AIM by ASA averages 3.4 from 253 ratings.
Do Pilot Handbook or FAR/AIM by ASA have ads?
Neither Pilot Handbook nor FAR/AIM by ASA shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Pilot Handbook or FAR/AIM by ASA?
Pilot Handbook ships an update every 6 months, and FAR/AIM by ASA every 5 months. Most recently, Pilot Handbook was updated on October 29, 2026 and FAR/AIM by ASA on October 29, 2026.

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